Blue Pencil Chronicles

I could tell it wouldn’t be long.  It’s barely a month to go, and somehow, in some sentimental way, I’m brooding over it.  I know, I know, to some, it’s not such a big deal.  But to me, for the past few years, a year added to my age means an old phase ending and a new phase beginning.  And most of all, the coming one is crucial because I’d be leaving my teenage years and saying hello to my twenty-something years.  Blech.  Even thinking about it makes me puke.

In any case, just like any other birthday, of course I welcome it with joy and optimism.  Likewise, I’m bringing back something I’ve done on my 18th birthday to which many people responded to.  And, guys, it’s my 20th birthday!  So let’s make it special!  Here’s my partial wishlist for all of you well-wishers out there.  Wehehe.  Ang kapal ko!  =P (more…)

People who know me know that on my spare time (yes, the little of it), I like to spend time watching movies (either with a companion or by myself through Joaqs).  I’m a suki of torrent sites out there, as well as cinemas whenever a new movie comes out.  But most of the time I busy myself watching movies at the apartment, just by the bed or by the study table, absent the more preferred surround sound or home theater lighting, and just confine myself with me and Joaqs (my laptop), plus a headset.

Lately, the movies I tend to watch were preoccupied with the idea that beneath the fabrics of this universe lies someone–or some thing–who/that writes the grand story of our lives.  There’s Mrs. Dalloway and Virginia Woolf in The Hours, Truman Burkman and Christof in The Truman Show, Harold Crick and Karen Eiffel in Stranger than Fiction, and Horton and the Who(s) in Horton hears a Who (although I haven’t finished this one yet). These movies talk about the eternal debate between the pre-destination of Man and his power to change that destiny, as well as the master pen-writer who weaves stories into our lives as he/it goes. (more…)

People are overjoyed by firsts.  First hugs, first kisses, first dates, first haircut, first solid food, and the list goes on.  Of course, who wouldn’t be happy with a monumental first, right?

I know I love firsts too but there are certain kinds of firsts I don’t like: first to report, first to dive, first to introduce, first to talk, first to perform, etc.  Haha.  You guessed it.  I hate it when I’m first to take on anything risky, or anything I’ve never done before.  Of course, I know I should be confident, but sometimes my fears and qualms get the best of me.

Just yesterday, I experienced another first: first discussion leader for the sem.  In our ethics class, the professor picks a name from a bag every meeting who will lead the class in the discussion of the homework or of the case assigned.  It’s just so bewildering that even after praying in my mind, crossing my fingers and making a subtle sign of the cross, my name was picked out of the twenty or so names inside the ziploc bag.  Ugh.  I panicked.  It would’ve been alright to be second because at least by then I’d have an idea how to conduct the discussion.  But being the first, I was clueless as to what I had to do.  Add to that my impeccable (dis)ability at speaking in front, which often leads to a lot of stammering and stuttering. I don’t like speaking that much.  I’m a nervous speaker.  Not knowing what to do, I simply followed the flow of the assignment (comparison of two codes of ethics) and thank God for the people who participated (Jeff, Claire, Marj and Dana, I owe you lots), the discussion went a bit fine.

So yeah, even if I was the “sacrificial lamb,” at least the prof gave me a bit of a leeway and understanding, given that I didn’t know much of what to do.

Oh well, being the first can be frightening, but at least I’m already done with being the discussion leader.  Heh.

Most of us are, at one point or another, disturbed by that one unnerving question that attempts to define our very existence: what am I doing in this world? To some, the answer seemingly comes quick as a passing day, but to most of us who are oblivious to the mysteries of the world, the answer doesn’t come at once, or sometimes, doesn’t come at all. (more…)

AJ has forever been raving about this certain chocolate that tastes so good. The best thing about it is that it’s available almost anywhere (in Mini Stop outlets) and that it’s manufactured locally. Truly one product to be proud of, if we believe AJ’s story. Heh.

Piqued with curiosity by reading AJ’s article on the Goya Dark Mint Chocolate, I immediately set out hunting for this tasty catch. When we passed by Mini Stop in DM Rivera Street near Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Makati, I didn’t hesitate and bought myself a pack.

When I finally found a pack of the chocolate (the last one at that), I quickly grabbed it and headed for the counter to pay. Holding it in my hand, it felt as if it didn’t even contain anything. Product of the packaging, I thought to myself.

When I got back at the car and opened the box, however, I found out something else about this chocolate: (more…)

I’d like to thank the person who thought of saving a day from a busy year for us to be able to show appreciation and gratitude to one of the most important persons in our entire existence: our moms. So, to whoever you are and wherever you may be, thank you a bajillion lot!

But come to think of it, moms must be so underappreciated that we have to set aside a special day devoted entirely for them, no? I think that says something. We need to appreciate our moms more, because they have one of the thankless and hardest jobs in this world: raising us from our bratty toddler years to our rebellious teen years and onto the day they let us fly on our own. Sigh… I just can’t help but wonder what this world would be without moms? It must be one disastrous place, even more of a wreck than my apartment room right now without my mom telling me to clean it. Heh.

So, to all the moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day! As for my mom… here’s a little something I prepared for her. I love you mom! =)

So yeah, I practically lost my sense of time.  And with it goes my sense of date, of moment, of anything remotely close to any temporal concept ever known to man.  Good thing my sense of space is still intact, otherwise I’d be traveling through time and back and may just end up somewhere in the World History I wouldn’t wanna be in.

Blah, I tend to blabber, I know.  Anyways, I’m just posting a quick update to let you all know I’m still alive.  I’m currently undergoing on the job training over at Philippine Daily Inquirer right now, and the internship blog I’ve set up for it is the one that’s more updated (or, come to think of it, it’s somehow updated.  LOLz).

So what else are the highlights of recent weeks?  Gawrsh, April’s flying by the window already, and sooner than we think, May’s happily waiting by the door with all its happy, shiny teeth full of newly-blossomed flowers.  Gah.  Time flies by so fast, that’s why I have any concept of time anymore.  Been sleeping 4-hour nights lately, waking up at the most ungodly of hours, aggravated by the fact that it’s freaking summer and I’m not getting that much sleep.  So on weekends I try to get back on my sleep (or uber lack of it), which basically makes my body clock go haywire and by Monday I end up experiencing major backlashes again.  SO YEAH, DEATH TO THIS ROUTINE.  Good thing I’d soon be finishing.

So, that’d be all for now.  I’m getting hooked on American Idol lately, some musicals from outer space, Counter-Strike and Grand Theft Auto, and I just can’t let this summer pass without touching a grain of sand, feeling the sun on my skin and breathing in fresh, cold, flowery air.  So yeah, just guess where I’m headed.  Hopefully every plan this summer will push through.

How’s your summer so far?

The next several weeks are going to be hectic, in a word.  Haggard, if you may.  That’s the main reason why I haven’t been blogging lately.  And I can’t promise myself to blog often during those hectic days.  Oh well, that’s the life of a student.  Furthermore, my UP Planner has become my trusty chronicler lately, so whatever I want to say, I put there.

In any case, this serves as an advance warning for the coming whiplash.  See you after the long lull.  =)  Hope you’re still there.